US Military Logistics Leadership Visited the Northern Nordic Region Norway, Sweden, and Finland recently welcomed the US Armed Forces logistics leadership for meetings focused on the High North. "We discussed which areas are central in logistics planning for conducting operations in the North," says the deputy commander of the Norwegian Defense Logistical Organisation.
Norway, Finland, and Sweden: Discussing New Cooperation Structure in the High North Tromsø (High North News): State secretaries of Norway, Finland, and Sweden have been mandated to start designing a new framework for northern Nordic cooperation. "We have a shared interest in finding a joint answer to this," says the Norwegian Foreign Minister.
Finland Welcomes New EU Commissioner: Focus On Regions Bordering Russia The European Commission Executive Vice-President, Raffaele Fitto, is visiting Finland this week. "We will discuss the situation in Eastern and Northern Finland and ways to boost vitality," says Petteri Orpo, the Finnish Prime Minister.
Norwegian Regional Leaders: Seeks New Solution for Northern Nordic Cooperation Finland is leaving the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, which also impacts the Barents Regional Council. A new form of cooperation that encompasses both regional and national levels should be created across the Cap of the North, believes the regional political leaders in Northern Norway.
Finland Withdraws From the Barents Euro-Arctic Council Finland will withdraw from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council after 2025 and rather invest in other formats for cooperation in the North. The country now has an idea about designing a joint strategic agenda for the northern regions of Finland, Norway and Sweden.
De-escalation Is Best Achieved With Credible Deterrence and Defense, says Finnish Major General Oslo (High North News): "The Russians only respect strength and determination," says Sami Nurmi, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy in the Finnish Defence Forces. He comments on the planned NATO forward land force in Finland and underlines the importance of allied competence in operating in Arctic conditions.
Nordic Leaders With Joint Move on the Cap of the North Ahead of NATO Summit Bodø (High North News): "We need a shared political understanding on how to maintain peace, stability, and order here in the North," says Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre. Recently, he gathered Swedish and Finnish top politicians in Bodø to discuss the long-term defense planning of the Northern Nordic region.
High Noon 2024: Northern Debate on Youth, Preparedness, Democracy and Moral in the Arts Everything is set for the debate series High Noon during the Arctic Arts Festival in Northern Norway. This year's edition offers tunes from several young and up-and-coming artists – and various voices from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Among the primary guests is the critically acclaimed Icelandic writer Jón Kalman Stefánsson.
Nordic Cooperation in the North: Norwegian-Finnish-Swedish Summit to Be Held in Bodø Next week, Norway's PM Jonas Gahr Støre will welcome Finland's President Alexander Stubb and Sweden's PM Ulf Kristersson to Bodø, Northern Norway. The three will discuss the opportunities for deeper civilian and military collaboration on the Cap of the North.
Norway’s Parliament Agrees to Give the US Access to New Military Areas in the North On Thursday, the Norwegian parliament voted in favor of giving US forces unimpeded access to several additional military areas, not least in the North. Norway should keep up with Sweden and Finland, recommended the Norwegian Intelligence Service – while others express concern for the policy that aims for low tension in the High North.
Norway’s Parliament Agrees to Give the US Access to New Military Areas in the North On Thursday, the Norwegian parliament voted in favor of giving US forces unimpeded access to several additional military areas, not least in the North. Norway should keep up with Sweden and Finland, recommended the Norwegian Intelligence Service – while others express concern for the policy that aims for low tension in the High North.
NATO’s New Northern Flank: Norway’s Army Chief Expects Great Responsibility Tromsø (High North News): The bulk of Sweden and Finland's army forces are located in the south, while most of Norway’s land forces are in the north. "These conditions will likely be important in further developing our cooperation," says the Chief of the Norwegian Army, pointing to new requirements and opportunities.
Norway's MFA on All the Nordics in NATO: "The Significance Hasn't Quite Hit Us Yet" Tromsø (High North News): With the new Nordic security policy community and close defense cooperation follows great opportunities for more interaction between Norway, Finland and Sweden also in other areas of society. "We have to learn how to take advantage of this," says Norwegian MFA Espen Barth Eide.
Pan-Arctic Vision 2024 in Greenland: Seeking Arctic Artists To This Fall's Big Stage in Nuuk This year's Pan-ArcticVision will take place in Greenland in October – and calls for contributions from Arctic artists with northern tones and words to express. This is an adventurous opportunity to form border-crossing bonds, share music, and strike a blow for the power of definition in the circumpolar north, the organizers tempt.
New Vision for Nordic Defense Cooperation: Eight Areas for Vigorous Joint Action A united Nordic region in NATO now join forces to lift the Nordic defense cooperation into a new era. "Russia will remain a threat against European and global security for the foreseeable future," believes the Nordic allies, wanting to engage in operational military interaction.
Norwegian-Russian Irina Collaborates with Arctic Philharmonic to Create Sami and Kven Children's Music Bodø (High North News): The Arctic Philharmonic is investing in Sami and Kven music. Norwegian-Russian Irina Girunyan is part of the initiative and will compose a piece for children. "It feels very right."
Finland's President and Norway's PM at Nordic Response: “A Historic Day for Many Reasons” Sweden’s brand new NATO membership was highlighted by Norway’s PM and Finland’s president during their visit to the Nordic Response exercise in Northern Norway. This exercise and this visit are also events of historical importance, they said and heralded even stronger Nordic cooperation.
New Agreement Gives US Access to Four New Military Areas in the North Norway and the US agree to expand their defense cooperation agreement to include new agreed areas. In Northern Norway, these are Andøya and Bardufoss air stations, Setermoen garrison, as well as a mountain complex in Evenes municipalty. The Norwegian parliament must approve the agreement.
New Defense Agreement Gives US Access to Several Military Areas in Finnish Lapland Finland's defense cooperation agreement with the US is now public. It will give American forces access to 15 military bases and exercise areas on Finnish soil. Five of these are in Lapland, Northern Finland.
Norway, Finland, and Sweden Increase Focus on the High North as Joint Operational Area Norway, Finland, and Sweden has entered into an updated defense cooperation agreement with a focus on the High North. "With this update, we can coordinate military operations as if they are NATO members," says the Norwegian Minister of Defense.
